A furious shop owner has blasted a new village one-way system which she says is destroying her business .

Since last month, the popular Queen Street and Chapel Street in Barwell - entering Queen Street from Shilton Road - became one-way.

However, businesses in the area say the new system, which is running to a six-month trial, has put their shops in danger of closing.

Kate Olgeirsson, who runs charity shop Roxie’s Rescue, said: “I’m very angry, they keep saying that it’s a trial, but that six months is going to destroy businesses.

It’s cut my takings by half and it’s also affecting other shops. You can’t just pull up and park anymore, and it’s really affecting the amount of customers we see.”

Resident Debbie Middleton added: “When they decided to make Chapel Street Barwell one-way, did anyone ask the businesses on that road?

“In less then 12 months, the road has been closed due to the sewers collapsing and now the fiasco of being made one-way.

“However, it is only Barwell, where the residents opinions do not matter.”

The changes have also affected on-street parking in the area, which will include the lifting of restrictions on a stretch of Chapel Street and the introduction of double yellow lines around junctions in nearby roads.

The trial will last for at least six months to see if there is an improvement in traffic flow along the roads.

However, Strad Kyriacou, who runs Chris’s Fish and Chips on High Street and was a former member of the Barwell Business Association, believes that the new system could be a good thing.

He said: “A few businesses may be slightly affected, but it’s leading to more traffic down the High Street.

“People just probably have to get used to it as some don’t like change, but as a resident using it, the road system is less stressful.

“I think we just need to give it long enough.”

Councillor Huw Williams, who represents Barwell, said in July that he was welcoming the scheme.

He added: “I think it’s a good idea because Chapel Street currently doesn’t work well in terms of traffic, especially not since I’ve been there, which is 20 years.

“Something needs to change as everyone knows about the traffic issues there.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of residents and they seem very happy with it, but it’s only a trial, and that’s the point of a trial - only time will tell if it works or not.”

The initiative is part of a wider Leicestershire County Council scheme to improve the transport network in and around Hinckley.

Councillor Peter Osborne, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Both Queen Street and Chapel Street are fairly narrow and it can be very stop-start for two-way traffic negotiating cars parked along them.

“We want to see if changing the roads to one-way will make things easier and are keen to hear people’s feedback during the trial period.”

At the end of the trial, feedback will be presented to senior officers and local members for a decision on the future of the scheme.